Key Points
- FCTA says corpses will no longer ride in ambulances. Officials call the practice unsafe for future patients.
- Dedicated hearses will be procured in the next budget. New policy separates emergency care from body conveyance.
- Twelve equipped Toyota Hiace ambulances are ratified for Abuja. Calls to 112 route to the nearest active ambulance.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has banned using ambulances to move corpses in Abuja. Officials call the practice unethical and unsafe for patients. The decision followed an executive meeting chaired by Nyesom Wike.
Dr Adedolapo Fasawe briefed reporters after the committee session. She said patients should not share space with dead bodies. Her stance echoes recent Abuja crime scene probe and safety debates. “In the FCT, we have zero tolerance,” she said.
Policy details and reasons
Ambulances will focus on living patients and urgent transfers. Dedicated hearses will be procured for respectful corpse transport. Officials warned that stretchers may be reused without full decontamination.
Ambulance upgrades and call routing
The FCT ratified 12 new Toyota Hiace ambulances for service. They meet global standards and link to the 112 dispatch. Calls to 112 will route to the nearest active ambulance.
Officials say road repair already cuts travel time across districts. Emergency crews expect faster access to remote communities after upgrades. New ambulances should trim response to only a few minutes.
The secretariat will budget for hearses to carry bodies. The move also follows safety coverage like Sommie Maduagwu burial report. Officials plan updates as NCC supports direct 112 call routing.
This marks the first major ambulance purchase in nine years. Officials say maintenance and training will keep the fleet reliable. FCT Health Services will publish routes and base locations after commissioning.
The vehicles are 2023 to 2024 models with full fittings. Equipment includes oxygen, stretchers, monitors, and radio links. Crews will follow hygiene rules to protect staff and patients.
Emergency calls to 112 will ping dispatch for nearest units. FEMA, NEMSAS, and FCT teams will share live data. The NCC partners to route calls to local responders faster.
Road works across Abuja have eased travel on key routes. Officials say some trips now take five minutes, not twenty. Faster roads should pair well with the upgraded ambulance fleet.
Hospitals will be asked to apply the policy immediately. The secretariat will issue guidance on safe handover procedures. Families will receive advice on contacting designated hearses for transport.
Public messaging will stress respect for the dead and living. Health workers will get reminders on strict cleaning between cases. Officials promise transparency on budgets and procurement milestones.
